Dispenser for liquid soap and the like



May 19, 1942. .'A. I BoBRlcK n DIsPENER 'FR LIQUID SOAP ANDTHE LIKE en? v Filed DBC. 27, 1938 Azi/(wir Patented May 19, 1942 LIK Fries ArthurL. Bcbrick, San Marino, Calif. ipplieation December 27, 1938, Serial No. 247,897

3 Claims.

This invention comprehends the provision of a dispenser for liquid soaps or the like which includes a receptacle for the soap, a holder for said receptacle and manually operable means for dispensing the soap in suitable quantities at each operation of the dispenser.

More particularly the invention resides in the provision of an improved dispensing means which includes a pump mounted adjacent the soap receptacle, and preferably embodied in the holder therefor and operable whereby measured quantities of liquid soap may be dispensed.

An important object ofthis invention is to provide a dispensing device or pump which includes a cylinder or chamber formed in the holder and in communication with the receptacle, a plunger reciprocable in said cylinder and provided with a dispensing passage and an outlet, means for providing communication between said receptacle and said outlet when said plunger is operated to a predetermined extent, and a' means operating upon the return stroke of the plunger to create a vacuum for withdrawing residual soap from said passage and outlet to thereby eliminate dripping and prevent the residual soap from clogging said passage and outlet.

It is an object, also, to provide a liquid soap dispenser with a minimum of parts, simple of design and which is not subject to damage to the parts or impairment of operation. Other and more detailed objects of invention will appear as the description progresses.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown a preferred form of dispenser, subject to modication within the scope of the appendedclaims, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In said drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, in which the dispenser is shown in normally inoperative position;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same as viewed to right angles to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the dispenser, partly in section, showing the valve at the end of the dispensing stroke;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the dispenser on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the dispenser, similar to Figs. 1 and 3, with the receptacle omitted and showing the dispenser in an intermediate position; and

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the dispensing plunger when removed from the holder.

My improvements include a usual receptacle R which has a reduced neck I adapted to be suitably secured in leak-proof engagement with a socket 2 of a holder H, as by means, for instance, of threads or ribs 3 on the extension or neck I, and a cement or sealing element 4.

Receptacle R usually has a iilling cap 5 at its top for the purpose of supplying quantities of liquid soap when and as needed in the operation of the dispenser.

Holder H has an extension ll5 by means of which the dispenser may be suitably attached to a supporting element, as for instance, a wall I, said supporting'means not being material to this invention. A cylinder or chamber 8 is provided in the lower portion of holder H which communicates with the interior of receptacle R by means of a port 9, and a dispenser member in the form of a plunger, as shown, but not necessarily so, as at D is mounted in said cylinder for the purpose of dispensing measured quantities of liquid soap at each operation thereof.

Said plunger is provided with a stem I0 having a bore II therein which is closed at the outer y end of the plunger by a ca p I2 and has an outlet I3 located near the outer end of the plunger thru which liquid soap is adapted to be dispensed, as hereinatfer explained. Stem I is slidable in a bushing I4 which is held in an end of holder H, as shown, particularly in Figs. 1, 3 .and 4. The inner n extremity of bore II communicates with a diametrical passage I5 which, when the plunger D vis'moved inwardly to a predetermined point, communicates with the cylinder 8.

The inner end I6 of said plunger is slightly enlarged, in practice, so as to abut the washer I3a held in place by the bushing I4, and thus prevent the liquid from escaping and also to limit the outward thrust of the plunger. The end I6 of said plunger also has a recess Il for receiving and holding the outer end of a ccmpression spring I8 while the inner end of said spring engages the inner end of cylinder 8 and thus serves to constantly urge the plunger outwardly to normally inoperative position. A port I9 is provided in said plunger for aiording communication between the interior ofvcylinder B and a groove 2D formed inthe bottom of holder H. Thus, when the plunger D is thrust inwardly as in a dispensing operation, liquid soap from receptacle R and cylinders will be forced through port I9, groove 29, passage `I5 in plunger D and bore II outwardly through outlet I3 upon or into the hand of an operator.

Itlwillbe noted that aporticn of the inner end of plunger D is bent downwardly, as at 2|, so as to slidably engage groove 20,'thereby preventing the' rotation of the plunger in its cylinder 8. Said groove 20, in addition to serving inward thrust of plunger D the contents of cylinder 8 will be forced outwardly from cylinder 8 into and from plunger D, and upon retraction of said plunger the vacuum created in cylinder 8 will serve to evacuate bore II and associated passages of whatever amount of soap may be left therein.

The dispenser of my invention, as hereinbefore described, operates as follows:

When the receptacle R containing a supply of liquid soap is mounted in the holder I-I as shown in Figure 1, the soapwill run through the port 9 into the chamber 8 due to the fact V.that the spring I8 normally holds the plunger D extended whereby said port 9 is uncovered. 'I'he plunger now presses against the washer I3 and seals the dispenser against leakage and in view of the fact that the ports I5 are out of registration with the passage 28 no soap can enter the passage II and escape through the outlet I3. When the plunger is pushed inwardly, the denite amount of soap contained in cylinder 8 is trapped therein due to the fact that the initial movement of the plunger closes port 9 which remains closed until the plunger is released and assumes the position shown in Figure l. Thus, inward movement of the plunger causes this trapped soap to be forced out through port I9, passage or keyway 20, ports I5, bore I I, and outlet I3. It should be noted that the ports I5 do not move past the washer I3 and come into registration with the groove 20 until the portion I5 has completely closed the port 9. It is thus seen that the plunger can not be manipulated to a position which will allow soap f plunger D to the position shown in Fig. 1, and

creates a partial vacuum in the inner end of cylinder 8 which is eifective for scavenging and evacuating the bore II and passages I5 and I9 of any accumulation of soap therein. The outlet I3 being movable with the plunger is desirable for the reason that the plunger may be so held in the hand of an operator that the hand, traveling with the plunger, will receive the dispensed quantity of soap.

It is important, therefore, that the pensed through and from the dispensing plunger rather than from the cylinder 8 directly or from any other pocket or recess. Moreover, the closing of the part between receptacle R and cylinder 8 prevents an over supply of soap at any operation of the device. It is quite apparent that the structure and arrangement shown and described permits of the ready removal of the dispensing plunger by merely removing the bushing I4.

Thus, the apparatus may be easily and quickly cleaned and Worn or damaged parts replaced with facility. It is emphasized that, in the operation of my mechanism, it is necessary and desirable to arrange the plunger D so that the port 9 Will be closed before the ports I5 are opened, that is, by moving inwardly into communication with groove 20, so as to assure the prevention of more than a normal and predetermined quantity of soap being dispensed at a single operation. Other advantages will readily appear to those familiar with the operation and use of dispensers of liquids. Of course, I do not limit this invention to the purpose of dispensing liquid soap, for it is apparent that other liquids may be also dispensed therefrom.

soap is dis- What I claim is:

1. In a liquid dispenser, a cylinder having a liquid intake port, a plunger reciprocable in said cylinder, a spring operative to normally hold said plunger extended, said plunger having an inlet normally disposed out of communication with the liquid containing portion of said cylinder and adapted to be brought into communication with said portion of said cylinder when said plunger is operated a predetermined extent, said plunger also having a liquid dispensing outlet and a passage extending between the inlet and outlet thereof, and means operative on the working stroke of the plunger for closing said intake port and forcing liquid from said cylinder thru said passage and outlet, and operating on the return stroke of the plunger to create a vacuum for withdrawing residual liquid from said passage into said cylinder.

2. In a liquid dispenser, a cylinder having a liquid intake port, a plunger reciprocable in said cylinder, a spring operative to normally hold said plunger extended, said plunger having an inlet normally disposed out of communication with the liquid containing portion of said cylinder and adapted to be brought into communication with said portion of said cylinder when said plunger is operated a predetermined extent, said plunger also having a liquid dispensing outlet and a passage extending betweenV the inlet and outlet thereof, and means operative on the working stroke of the plunger for closing said intake port and forcing a liquid from said cylinder thru said passage and outlet, and operating on the return stroke of the plunger to create a vacuum for withdrawing residual liquid from said passage into said cylinder, said means including a hollow piston portion on the inner end of said plunger', said cylinder having a groove therein, a key portion on said piston portion engaging in said groove, said piston portion having a port therein for aiording communication of the liquid containing portion of the cylinder with said groove.

3. In a liquid dispenser, a cylinder having a liquid intake port, a plunger reciprocable in said cylinder, a spring operative to normally hold said Vplunger extended, said plunger having an inlet normally disposed out 0f communication with the liquid containing portion of said cylinder and adapted to be brought into communication vwith said portion of said cylinder when said plunger is operated a predetermined extent, said plunger also having a liquid dispensing outlet and a passage extending between the inlet and outlet thereof, and means operative on the working stroke of the plunger for closing said intake port and forcing a liquid from said cylinder thru said passage and outlet, and operating on the return stroke of the plunger to 'create a vacuum for withdrawing residual liquid from said passage into said cylinder, said means including a hollow piston portion on the inner end of said plunger, said cylinder having a groove therein, a key portion on said piston portion engaging in said groove, said piston portion having a port therein for affording communication of the liquid containing portion'of the cylinder with said groove, said plunger inlet being adapted to communicate with said liquid containing portion through said groove and the port in said piston, said spring having one end seated in said hollow piston portion.

ARTHUR L. BOBRICK. 

